Sometimes a belly full of warm good is completely necessary. On a cold day after a visit to the deYoung or the Conservatory of Flowers, find your way to Nihonmachi (Japantown) on a pedestrian block of Buchanan between Post and Sutter streets to Tanpopo for a fill of the perfect ramen. The gamut of stock & noodles runs wide, from shoyu with fishcake to the surreal good pork Kyushu ramen. If your proclivities bend more towards udon, across the street in the Kintetsu mall you’ll find homemade udon & soba in Mifune’s rationalist black and red environs.

Putting the kawaii in yoshoku-ya, On the Bridge sits literally in the covered bridge over Webster street between the Kintetsu and the Kinokuniya buildings. Between the curries and hamburger dishes, crammed into the narrow slice between hallway and countertop, their east/west mashups like spaghetti with butter and tobiko make tummy happy. Seriously, you could spend a month eating through their weird menu of awesome.

On the other side of the bridge, next to Sophie’s Crepes lives Izumiya, probably the best place to find okonomiyaki in San Francisco. Paired with katsu curry, you’ll spend about ten bucks and be completely sated. Don’t come for the service or the ambiance, but do enjoy the crepes next door—just don’t take any photos. Sophie hates it. Instead, get goofy and snapped in the cluster of sticker booths next to the fountain at the bottom of the stairs.

Long story short, someone told me to try throwing together a quick alphabet as part of Art Crash Noir. What’s posted here is my 2nd alphabet, dedicated to things most geeky. Enjoy. Oh, and if you're familiar with everything in the alphabet you're geekier than you should be. Which is scary.

Tonight a few of us holed up in Kona and watched movies. One of them was Cashback, the first feature from Sean Ellis, based on his short of the same name. The cast from the short reprised their roles. Ben, the protagonist narrates the story about an artist in university who reacts to his insomnia by working the night shift at Sainsbury’s, the characters he meets there and the events that follow. It’s also a story about love, loss, pranks, acceptance, introspection and plain being young. And freezing time. And lots of very naked women. In conclusion: awesome, one of the best films I’ve seen in a while.

Yesterday, two of my best friends got married. Like the other two weddings I’ve attended this year, it was notable for two reasons: The ceremony was officiated by a friend, and I was able to watch all three relationships develop from the beginning. It is immensely gratifying to see such good people who are so obviously right for each other decide to spend their life together.

At his wedding a few weeks ago, my friend Ted said “you wouldn’t invite a stranger to your wedding, so why would you invite a stranger to wed you?” There was a simple truth in that, one that is obviously appreciated by his wife Misty, as well as Jen, Jay and my other friends Jen and Oliver.

Last night, the number and breadth of toasts was staggering. There was practically a queue of people stumbling over each other to give a speech in Jen and Jay’s honor. This was supposed to be a toast, but after the 40th or so outing, the bride & groom cut it off so dancing & hot tubbing could begin.

On a single phone call in January 2006, I knew that Jen was right for Jay. Simultaneously with their star rising, mine was spectacularly cratering. I went from happy new homeowner, living with my girlfriend forming nascent plans for marriage and kids, to a complete upset with too many antagonistic altercations, lawyers and things that should have been left unsaid. The end of 2005 and the first few months of 2006 were the single most emotionally taxing period of my entire life. On that phone call, Jen offered without hesitation to let me stay at her place, dog in tow. Someone I barely knew, who had just started dating my good friend became instant support network. That is unequivocally awesome.

So thanks Jen, and thanks Jay. It was an honor &c to be a part of your wedding, and I hope, rather know, your lives together will be epic.